The Ohio State University student-built Venturi Buckeye Bullet 2 electric vehicle set a new FIA world record of 307.7mph (495.2km/h) at Bonneville Salt Flats. The Bullet 2 was built at Ohio State University’s Center for Automotive Research with assistance from Venturi, a Monaco-based electric vehicle manufacturer.
The speed record still has to be ratified by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) but the previous record of 245.5mph (395.1km/h) has clearly been shattered.
This Buckeye Bullet 2 is actually version 2.5, powered by A123 lithium-ion battery cells, reportedly using 1600 cells that can put out 600kW (800hp). Buckeye Bullet Version 2 was powered by a Ballard hydrogen fuel cell and achieved a speed of 314.9mph (506.8km/h) in 2004 but it failed to satisfy FIA requirements to claim an electric vehicle world record run, but it does hold the hydrogen fuel cell powered world record of 302.9 (498.5km/h), set in September 2009.
Visit: http://www.venturi.fr/ & http://www.buckeyebullet.com/
Via Wired
